Index tab



April 12, 1932- E. J. ToMPKlNs 1,853,098

INDEX TAB Filed July 8, 1931 Assn wzg Z'Zme 1^ d: 75777,0/f a 77s', L? JNVENTOR.

Patented Apr.l 12, 1932.:

rArEfNr FFlciE ELMER J. ToMPxINs, or cLEvELAND, oHio INDEX mais.v

Application `1e`d` July 8,

The present invention relates to index cards or' sheets provided withV independent tabs projecting from one edge thereof, and more particularly tothe construction of the o index'tab and the manner in which the latter is associated with the card.

In carrying out the invention I comprehend the provision of an index tab includingva kprotective element of transparent material,

- 1G which together withv kthe tab properfis effectively secured to the index sheet in a manner whereby the tab in'its entirety is materially reinforced. f

A The nature and advantages of the inven- '15 tion will be better `un'derstoodwhen the following detailed ldescription is read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

y In the drawings forming part of this application like numerals of referenceindiparts inthe several views andU cate similar ywherein Figure lis a view inelevationshowing a f plurality of index sheets .partlybrolren away,

and arranged one behind the other, to illus` trate'how the tabs cany be arranged on a plurality `of sheets and readily presented to view. n

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through one ofthesheets and its index tab. p

Figure 3-is a View of a blank from which the tab proper may be formed.

'p35 Before entering in ardetail description of the invention,I desire to have it understood that the term index sheet is employed in its generic'sense, and is intended to in-r clude any type of supporting element with "which the index tab, forming the subject matterof the present invention, is Vcapable of being used. v

The invention essentially includes a tab proper which may embody a strip of any suitable material, preferably paper, which is adapted to be folded upon itself :along the fold line 10 indicated Vin Figure 3, to provide a substantially U-shaped element adapted to receive Vone edge of the index sheet or sup- 5f' porting element 11. This strip of material,

193i. yserieu No. .549.469,

so folded upon itself, may constitute the tab proper, andeach limb'12 of the tab is provided with suitable index data as illustrated at 12a. The limbs 12 are adhesively secured f to the opposed faces of the sheet or supporting element 11, withy the tab projecting `an appreciable distance beyond this edge of the el-ement, and upon inspection of Figure 2 it will be noted that the confronting faces of the limbs 12 may, be adhesively secured tose gether outwardly of the ledge ofthe index sheet or supporting element. .f

A similarbut longer strip of transparent material,` preferably celluloid is arranged over the tab proper, and constitutes :a cover 'y therefor to protect the tab proper from dirt, moistureand other foreign matter. This cover is folded upon itself to provide limb-s 13 which are adhesively secured to the Ilimbs 12 of the tab proper and also to the opposed i0 faces of the sheet or supporting element 11. In other Words, the protecting cover extends an appreciable distance beyond the free ends f of the tab-proper, as shown' in Figure 2, and f is adhesively secured to the opposed faces Y of, andare secured to the supporting element v su ll'in` a manner toeft'ectively strengthen and reinforce theconstruction as a whole. They mayk also beenlarged to" have their upper c edges flush with the upper edge of the associatedindex'sheet. 95l

Thev indextabs can-belocated at any appropriate or desired-point on' the supporting ele"- ment, but for conveniencey in use, they are preferably arranged on a` lurality of such elements in the manner il ustrated Iin Fign ure 1. In other words, where a plurality of index cards or sheets are adapted to be filed one behind the other, the index tabs on the repective sheets of a group, are arranged di erent distances from one of the longitudinal edges, so that when the cards are stacked or arranged in a file cabinet or the like, the indexcards will be singly presented to view from the various cards in the manner as shown in Figure 1, so that they can be employed to the best advantage.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily understood, I desire to have it known that I do not limit myself to what is herein illustrated or described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed. For instance, the tab proper may be an integral extension on the edge of thesheet 11, instead of thc separate folded element shown in Figure 8.

What I claim as new is:

l. The combination with a supporting element, of an index tab therefor comprising a single strip of material folded upon itself to provide parallel limbs adapted to receive one edge of the supporting element therebetween and having' index data thereon, said limbs being adhesively secured to the opposed faces of said element for a portion of their length and projecting beyond said edge of the element, the confronting faces of said limbs being adhesively secured together from the edge of the element throughout the remaining portion of their length, and a similar strip of transparent material arranged over the tab and constituting a protective reinforcing cover therefor, and adhesively secured to the opposed faces of said element beyond the free ends of said tab.

2. The combination with a supporting element, of anindex tab therefor comprising a. single strip of material folded upon itself to provide parallel limbs adapted to receive one edge of the supporting element therebetween, said limbs being adhesively secured to the opposed faces of said element for a portion of their length and projecting beyond the edge of said element, the confronting faces of said limbs being adhesively secured ytogether from theedge of the element throughout the remaining portion of their length, and a similar strip of transparent material arranged over the tab and constituting a protective reinforcing cover therefor, the limbs of said cover being adhesively secured to the tab and also to the opposed faces of said element beyond the free ends of the tab.

3. The combination with a supporting element, of an index tab therefor comprising asingle'strip of material folded upon itself to-provide parallel limbs adapted to receive one edge of the element therebetween, sa-id 65 limbs f being, adhesively-secured to the opposed faces of said element for a portion of their length and projecting beyond said edge, the confronting faces of said limbs being adhesively secured together from the edge throughout the remaining portion of their length, a similar strip of transparent material arranged over said tab and constituting a. protective reinforcing cover therefor, the limbs of said cover being adhesively secured to the limbs of the tab and also to the opposed faces ofthe supporting element beyond t-he free ends of the tab, and reinforcing strips adhesively secured to the limbs of said cover and also to the opposed faces of the supporting element beyond the edges of said limbs.

4. In combination with a supporting element having a projecting tab on one edge, a U-shaped element of transparent material arranged over said tab to protect and reinforce the latter, the limbs of said cover being adhesively secured to the opposite faces of the supporting element, and fabric reinforcing strips extending across the limbs of said cover and adhesively secured to said limbs and to the supporting element at opposite sid-es of and below said limbs.

5. The combination with a supporting element, of an index tab comprising a substantially U-shaped clement receiving one edge of the supporting element and having its limbs adhesively secured to the opposed faces thereof, said tab projecting beyond said edge, a similar element of transparent material arranged over said tab and constituting a protective reinforcing cover therefor, the limbs of said cover projecting beyond the free ends of the tab and adhesively secured to the opposed faces of the supporting element, and a reinforcing strip adhesively secured to each limb of the cover and also to the supporting element beyond the edges of said limb.

Inr testimony' whereof I affix my signature.

ELMER J. TOMPKINS. 

